Saskatchewan set to be drenched over first full weekend of summer

It may be the first full weekend of summer, but it’ll feel like early spring in many parts of Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada says rain is expected to start overnight on Friday and fall until Monday in large areas of the province. Meteorologist Chris Stammers said much of central and southern Saskatchewan can expect to see 30-40 millimetres of rain over the weekend, with heavier rainfall and thunderstorms expected to move through some areas.

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“Parts of the southwest could see upwards of 50 to 60 millimetres,” he said.

“Certainly looks like the heaviest rainfall is going to fall on the Alberta side, but a pretty good swath of rain through much of central Saskatchewan, and even the south as well.”

Environment Canada issues rainfall warnings when 50 millimetres of rain is expected to hit a region in less than 24 hours. Stammers said he wasn’t sure if a rainfall warning would be issued, but there’s a chance the southwest could fall within that threshold.

The southern part of the province can expect to see more thunderstorms over the weekend, while the central region will see steadier rainfall, Stammers said.

Many communities have struggled with flooding due to a hefty snow pack and heavy rains throughout the spring. Stammers said there is a risk of more flooding this weekend in areas that already have saturated soil, including Churchbridge, Yorkton, Prince Albert and North Battleford.

Flooded fields leave some acres unseeded

The latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture said about three per cent of the province’s typically seeded acres went unseeded this year because of the excess moisture.

Another three per cent of seeded crops are unlikely to grow because of the wet conditions, while about two per cent of the province’s pasture land can’t be accessed because its too soggy.

“Discouragement is, I would say, the biggest word,” said Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.

“There’s nothing to do about it. The rains will be where rains are going to be, and you kind of have to deal with it.”

Much of the Yorkton area is still saturated, he said, and some fields are still completely underwater.

Prybylski said there’s been a large risk of equipment sinking into the muck in some areas that remain waterlogged.

“A lot of anxiety, discouragement, and you gotta give producers credit. They will forge on,” he said.

While some fields have dried out after the spring rains, Prybylski said the water may have wrecked roads or approaches, blocking farm equipment from accessing fields.